Spiritual warfare novels are those that pull back the curtain on the spiritual dimension and overtly weave elements of this invisible world into the story. Generally, to qualify as a spiritual warfare story, there must be interaction with the spiritual realm upon the natural realm. Or the story could take place totally in the spiritual realm. Although, such a story world without interactions with people would be an exception to the rule.
Have you ever seen the 1990 movie Ghost, with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore? That’s a spiritual warfare movie. Sure, Hollywood put its slant on it, but it was still in essence a movie about spirits affecting the lives of people. What about the first Ghostbusters? (Let’s just pretend they never made a second one!) It was a comedy, yeah, but it was a spiritual warfare movie. And, oh goodness. What about The Exorcist, and the hundred copycat movies like it?
America Loves Spiritual Warfare Stories
Go on down the list. If there are demons or some evil “force” in the story trying to hurt people, that’s a spiritual warfare theme. Now do the same with books. What’s a vampire but a demon with flesh? And what about haunted houses? It seems people never tire of a house with a demon in it terrorizing the residents!
America has a voracious appetite for spiritual warfare movies and books, and Hollywood is more than happy to feed this hunger with their version of spiritual warfare.
But Hollywood’s version of spiritual warfare = Glorifying and exalting Satan’s power and minimizing or ignoring God’s power. We need an alternative. Preferably, one based in truth! That’s where the Christian spiritual warfare author comes in.
Take a Look at Christian Spiritual Warfare Books
Christian spiritual warfare novels, the kind I write (click here to see), include angels and demons and God as integral actors in the stories. But unlike Hollywood’s portrayal, God is not absent or weak. Nor is evil almighty. Rather, I use my imagination to create suspenseful and realistic spiritual warfare stories that are expressed within the constraints of biblical truth—and not to scare people, but to bring biblical truths to life through sanctified entertainment.
Fortunately, many Christians can’t get enough of a good, Christian spiritual warfare story. Yet, surprisingly, many Christians are turned off by such stories. On one hand that’s okay. No one is going to like all story forms. But my concern is of those on the other hand. These are Christians who do not appreciate the story form in large part because they don’t like to think about something as distasteful as spiritual warfare.
Spiritual Warfare without Demons?
One person even wrote to me that I talked too much about demons in my books. What an astounding thing to say about a “spiritual warfare” book that is advertised as spiritual warfare among angels, demons, and people. That’s like a person going to a football game and saying the teams are running around on the field too much. Can’t they play this game while sitting on the bench! Uhh, no. Similarly, neither is there spiritual warfare unless someone is in conflict. That someone would be us and the forces of evil.
The Bible is Full of Spiritual Warfare
The Bible is the greatest spiritual warfare book in existence. This is where we learn of Satan and demons and angels and God. We see spiritual warfare in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and in Revelation, the last book in the Bible, and in several other books of the Bible. Here are just a few examples:
- In 1 Chronicles 21:1, “Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.” Here Satan moves behind the scene to get King David to do something forbidden. It led to national calamity.
- In Zechariah 3:1, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.” Here Satan is again seen literally opposing a man in his work of the Lord.
- In Job 1 and 2, we see Satan gaining permission from God to attack Job’s material possessions, health, and family.
- In Daniel 10:13, the angel Gabriel explained to the prophet why it took him so long to arrive with the answer to his prayer: “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince [demon power] of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes [angels], came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings [demonic powers] of Persia.”
Like It Or Not, Spiritual Warfare Is Real,
and So Is Your Opponent!
Ignorance of the Enemy is No Defense Against His Attacks. You Must Attack!
We could go on and on and on with biblical examples of spiritual warfare. But we’ll just end it with something Paul said. We are told in Ephesian 6 that wrestling with principalities and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places is our common experience. If God feels this issue is so important that it is the major biblical theme, we should welcome Christian writers who use their gift to teach us through their stories how to recognize and combat the wiles of the enemy.
Come on. Let’s support Christian writers of spiritual warfare fiction. Go out and get yourself a good spiritual warfare novel. I just happen to know of a few spiritual warfare authors (smile). Click on each name to see our books: Eric M Hill, Parker Hudson, Donovan Neal, and the godfather of spiritual warfare fiction, Frank Peretti. Enjoy!
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Eric M Hill
Author of Spiritual Warfare Novels
ericmhillauthor.com
